Donald Trump is being a sore loser and the race-calling media organizations are being cautious, but as Joe Biden comes closer and closer to being declared the winner of the presidential race, he and running mate Sen. Kamala Harris are planning to make remarks Friday evening. The two will speak reportedly beginning around 8 PM ET, with Harris speaking first—a departure from tradition, as the vice president-elect doesn’t usually speak as victory is (perhaps) declared.
They lead Trump and Mike Pence in the Electoral College and in the ongoing counts of four out of five states that haven’t yet been officially called. Fox News and the Associated Press called Arizona for Biden early Wednesday morning and have stood by that even as his lead has narrowed, while Biden’s lead has grown in Nevada and he has overtaken Trump in both Pennsylvania and Georgia.
Biden has spoken regularly since the end of voting on Tuesday night, consistently expressing optimism about the outcome of the election but calling for patience as every vote is counted. Speaking Wednesday afternoon, he said, “We the people will not be silenced. We the people will not be bullied. We the people will not surrender. My friends, I am confident we will emerge victorious. But this will not be my victory alone or our victory alone. It will be a victory for the American people, for our democracy, for America. There will be no blue states and red states when we win. Just the United States of America.”
Speaking Thursday, he again emphasized patience and expressed his confidence.
With vote counting continuing in the contested states, Friday evening could be a very different, celebratory occasion.